Amusement device



NOV. 7, 1950 c, HERRMANN 2,528,516

AMUSEMENT DEVICE Filed March 23, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

Nov. 7, 1950 c. HERRMANN 2,528,516

AMUSEMENT DEVICE Filed March 23, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVEN TOR.

Nov. 7, 1950 c. HERRMANN 2,528,516

musmn'r DEVICE Filed March 23, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN VEN TOR.

Nov. 7, 1950 c. HERRMANN I 2,528,516

AMUSEMENT DEVICE Filed March 23, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 30 H z? .I Z6

IN V EN TOR.

Patented Nov. 7, 1950 S PATENT OFFICE AMUSEMENT DEVICE Charles Herrmann, Los Angeles, Calif., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Ben Charles Asher,

Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application March 23, 1945, Serial No. 584,394

1 Claim. 1

My invention relates to an amusement device of the passenger carrying class and will hereafter be referred to as the Gyro-Globe. The object of my invention is to provide an amusing and exciting ride for those passengers that may embark thereon, with due provisions for their safety.

In describing my invention reference will be made to the accompanying drawings wherein like characters will be used to denote like and corresponding parts throughout the several views and in which:

Figure 1 is an elevation of my invention viewed from the entrance port.

Figure 2 is an end elevation viewed 90 degrees to Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a section on the line, 83 of Fi ure 1.

Figure 4 is a vertical section on the line 44 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 shows the current conductor bars and brushes and is viewed at 5-5 of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a side view of Figure 5.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, It is a base or foundation having a power source or motor H mounted thereon and drives a pinion l 8 through the drive shaft l5 onto which is mounted the sprocket l4 and driven by the motor it through the sprocket l2 and chain [3. The supporting frame H is fixedly mounted on the base ill and has a plurality of supporting rollers 2l2l journalled therein. A vertical ring girder 28 has mounted thereon for the full circumference thereof a ring gear I 9 which engages and is driven by the drive pinion l3. 2lla2fia are track elements of the ring girder 20 and rests on and are rotatable on the supporting rollers 2I2l. Current conductors 2llb- 2lib are supported on ring girder 2D and are energized by a source of current supply through connector bar brushes id-40 which are suitably supported on said frame ll, method of support not shown. 22 is a horizontal drive power source or motor which is supported on ring girder 2E! and is energized by current in the conductors 2012-291), said motor having a pinion 23 fixed to the shaft thereof, this pinion 23 engages the ring gear 24 which is axially fixed to the exterior framework of the globe 25 which is of open frame ring girder construction. The ring gear 24 is normal to the vertical axis of said globe 25. Platform 26 is a diaphragm within the globe 25 and is suitably pierced for stairways 21. Axis shaft 28 extends through the thrust plates 2929 and is fixed thereto at both extremities of the globe 25. The extreme ends of axis shaft 28 passes through radial thrust bearings 30-40 which are fixed to ring girder 20 permitting globe 25 to revolve about said axis. Circumferentially placed above the diaphragm 26 and fixed thereto are seats 3l3l. Dual circumferential safety bars 3232 are journalled in standards 3333 fixedly attached to diaphragm 26 and are arranged to swing upward and away from seats 3l-3l to allow passengers to be seated without obstructions, and to swing downward and toward the seats 3l-3l, when passengers are seated, into a locked position to retain passengers in their seat.

Control means for regulating the rate of rotation of the motors l! and 22 is shown in Fig. 1. This control means is of conventional type and is therefore shown schematically. The control means comprises a control box 50, which has one or more control handles 5!. Lead Wires connecting the motor H with said control box 50 are encased in a cable 52. Similarly lead wires connecting brushes 48 with said control box 50 are encased in a cable 53. Control box 50 is connected to a suitable source of electric current. Operation of the handles 5! enable the motors I l and 22 to be controlled separately.

Suitably located and controlled limit Switches can be mounted on ring girder 20 to limit and determine the angular movement of the ring girder or to automatically induce an oscillating motion in the vertical frame. These limit switches, a common article of commerce, are not shown.

In operation passengers enter; the Gyro-Globe at a suitable opening in the framework, ascend stairway 27 to diaphragm platform 26 and seat themselves. An attendant positions guard rails 32 and secures them for the passengers safety. Electric current is introduced into conductor bars zoo-20b through brushes ll4l energizing motor 22 which causes the globe to rotate about its vertical axis within ring girder 2E]. The rate of rotation is controlled by external means not shown. When this rate of rotation approaches the desired speed, motor ll is energized and through the driving means causes ring girder 20 to revolve about its horizontal axis. Through the limit switches before mentioned an oscillating motion can be imparted to ring girder 2B of varying degrees of angularity or complete revolution as desired by external controlling means not shown. Thus while the passenger carrying globe revolves about its vertical axis the relationship of its axis to the true vertical can be varied at will or oscillated producing a thrilling and exciting sensation to passengers.

In reducing my invention to practice I reserve the right to make such modifications as may be deemed advisable provided such modifications do not fall beyond the scope of my claim.

What I claim is:

A passenger carrying amusement device comprising a foundation, a supporting framework, a source of rotary motion mounted on the said foundation and driving a pinion gear, a ring gear externally fixed to a ringlike structure and engaging the aforesaid pinion, the said ringlike structure resting on supporting rollers journalled in the said supporting frame, a second source of rotary motion carryin a pinion gear mounted internall in the said ringlike structure and engaging an external ring gear externally mounted equatorially on a spherical structure, the said spherical structure vertically journalled in the said ringlike structure, a, diaphragmic structure horizontal Within the said spherical structure, the said diaphragmic structure carrying passenger seating means and suitably pierced for stairs leading to the base of the spherical structure,

external controlling means for the said sources of rotary motion, slideableelectrical conductor means all together coacting to provide a passenger carrying ride wherein the spherical member r0- tates about its vertical axis and the ringlike structure rotatable or oscillating about its vertical axis under the influence of its controlling means.

CHARLES HERB/MANN.

I REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent: V

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

